Summary

The poem begins with a speaker addressing the house of Penshurst directly, comparing it to other lavish homes. He asserts that Penshurst is an "ancient pile" that lacks some of the splendor of more elaborate homes, but for this reason it is revered while other homes are simply envied (5). Penshurst, by contrast, has a natural kinship with the earth, and the speaker notes that many figures from antiquity and the pastoral tradition have enjoyed themselves on its grounds. The speaker describes the surrounding landscape of Penshurst and argues that it is rife with healthy, happy animals that produce ample food for the dwellers. These animals are also happy to be part of the meal themselves: as the speaker announces, "The painted partridge lies in every field, / And, for thy mess, is willing to be killed" (29-30).

Moving through the rest of the home, the...